thedrifter
11-18-07, 07:14 AM
Police chiefs could lose officers to Camp Lejeune
LINDELL KAY
November 18, 2007 - 12:56AM
DAILY NEWS STAFF
Area police chiefs are not looking forward to losing their officers to Camp Lejeune.
Already dealing with positions they cannot fill and low funding for necessities like bullet-resistant vests, small town police chiefs are now looking at a "significant loss of personnel" when the base begins to hire civilian police early next year.
In a move to provide the maximum number of Marines available to support Operations Iraqi Freedom and Enduring Freedom, the base will turn its provost marshal office into a Marine Corps Police Department, base officials said.
"Although a definite timeline has not yet been established, Camp Lejeune anticipates hiring police officers early 2008," said 1st Lt. Craig Thomas, deputy director of base public affairs.
The base police force will become a mixed unit of 366 civilian police officers and 150 Marines. The mix will provide a balanced force of highly trained Marines and professional civilians, Thomas said.
Base officials said they have spoken with local law enforcement about the change.
"This is important because roughly 70 percent (of Camp Lejeune) Marines live off base," Thomas said.
Jacksonville Police Chief Mike Yaniero said he has had several conversations with the provost marshal about what the new base police force will mean to his department.
"Of course I expect to see an effect on the police force," Yaniero said. "But I have been talking to (base officials) to make sure that Jacksonville's level of police service is not diminished."
Base officials have said they will work to ensure local law enforcement agencies are not put in jeopardy.
But chiefs in smaller departments in outlying municipalities said they are concerned.
"It's hard enough as it is," Richlands Police Chief Thomas Bennett said.
Surf City Police Chief Mike Halstead said he had an open spot for a patrol officer since July he has not been able to fill.
Small town police chiefs said they are afraid of the domino effect.
When Jacksonville loses officers to the base, then the smaller towns will begin to lose officers to Jacksonville. Then, several police chiefs said, the smaller police departments will be forced to hire less experienced officers.
"The smaller departments are facing same thing as the larger ones and then some," Swansboro Police Chief Ed Parrish said.
Parrish said he has already been to the town administration with his concerns.
"I have been discussing the matter with them," Parrish said. "We are all concerned about the impact. How can we complete with the base when they are offering $10,000 more than we can?"
Base officials confirmed entry-level police officers will receive GS-7 pay, which ranges from $35,000 to $45,000, according to the U.S. Office of Personnel Management. Supervisory staff will be paid up to GS-13, which goes past $90,000.
"Their midlevel officers will be making more than any of my people, including me," Parrish said. "We are looking at what we could do, but it is impractical to believe we could compete."
An additional $100,000 a year would have to be added to his budget to match the pay the base is offering, Parrish said.
The base job is attractive, several police officers admitted. Working for the base could mean retirement after 20 years, which includes health insurance, compared with working 30 years out in town and not receiving health insurance afterward.
"Obviously, a lot guys are going to go for it," Holly Ridge Police Chief John Maiorano said. "The fact is, cops have families and they need money."
Onslow County Sheriff Ed Brown said he expected to see entry-level personnel apply and switch over to the base if they are hired.
"But I would like to think that people who have time in and have invested in their career here will stay," Brown said.
Incoming police officers will be required to pass a security check and a local background check. The new police will have to complete an eight-week Marine Corps civilian law enforcement course.
The new civilian police officers will fulfill the same duties active-duty military police are now, including standing guard at the base gates and patrols.
Three Marine Corps bases already have converted to civilian police departments: Marine Corps Support Facility, Blount Island Command in Florida; Marine Corps Logistics Base Albany in Georgia; and Marine Corps Logistics Base Barstow, in California. The remaining base provost marshal offices will not convert to civilian police departments but will incorporate a mix of military police and civilian police officers, Thomas said.
Most Marine base support positions, including vehicle registration, vehicle impound, PMO front desk, and the ready-for-issue room (armory), are now being filled by civilians, he said.
The switch over to civilian police will put an end to the Fleet Assistance Program for PMOs. The program sends Marines from other fields to temporarily step in as military police.
Contact police reporter Lindell Kay at lkay@freedomenc.com or 910-554-8534. To comment on this story or to read others' comments go to jdnews.com.
Ellie
LINDELL KAY
November 18, 2007 - 12:56AM
DAILY NEWS STAFF
Area police chiefs are not looking forward to losing their officers to Camp Lejeune.
Already dealing with positions they cannot fill and low funding for necessities like bullet-resistant vests, small town police chiefs are now looking at a "significant loss of personnel" when the base begins to hire civilian police early next year.
In a move to provide the maximum number of Marines available to support Operations Iraqi Freedom and Enduring Freedom, the base will turn its provost marshal office into a Marine Corps Police Department, base officials said.
"Although a definite timeline has not yet been established, Camp Lejeune anticipates hiring police officers early 2008," said 1st Lt. Craig Thomas, deputy director of base public affairs.
The base police force will become a mixed unit of 366 civilian police officers and 150 Marines. The mix will provide a balanced force of highly trained Marines and professional civilians, Thomas said.
Base officials said they have spoken with local law enforcement about the change.
"This is important because roughly 70 percent (of Camp Lejeune) Marines live off base," Thomas said.
Jacksonville Police Chief Mike Yaniero said he has had several conversations with the provost marshal about what the new base police force will mean to his department.
"Of course I expect to see an effect on the police force," Yaniero said. "But I have been talking to (base officials) to make sure that Jacksonville's level of police service is not diminished."
Base officials have said they will work to ensure local law enforcement agencies are not put in jeopardy.
But chiefs in smaller departments in outlying municipalities said they are concerned.
"It's hard enough as it is," Richlands Police Chief Thomas Bennett said.
Surf City Police Chief Mike Halstead said he had an open spot for a patrol officer since July he has not been able to fill.
Small town police chiefs said they are afraid of the domino effect.
When Jacksonville loses officers to the base, then the smaller towns will begin to lose officers to Jacksonville. Then, several police chiefs said, the smaller police departments will be forced to hire less experienced officers.
"The smaller departments are facing same thing as the larger ones and then some," Swansboro Police Chief Ed Parrish said.
Parrish said he has already been to the town administration with his concerns.
"I have been discussing the matter with them," Parrish said. "We are all concerned about the impact. How can we complete with the base when they are offering $10,000 more than we can?"
Base officials confirmed entry-level police officers will receive GS-7 pay, which ranges from $35,000 to $45,000, according to the U.S. Office of Personnel Management. Supervisory staff will be paid up to GS-13, which goes past $90,000.
"Their midlevel officers will be making more than any of my people, including me," Parrish said. "We are looking at what we could do, but it is impractical to believe we could compete."
An additional $100,000 a year would have to be added to his budget to match the pay the base is offering, Parrish said.
The base job is attractive, several police officers admitted. Working for the base could mean retirement after 20 years, which includes health insurance, compared with working 30 years out in town and not receiving health insurance afterward.
"Obviously, a lot guys are going to go for it," Holly Ridge Police Chief John Maiorano said. "The fact is, cops have families and they need money."
Onslow County Sheriff Ed Brown said he expected to see entry-level personnel apply and switch over to the base if they are hired.
"But I would like to think that people who have time in and have invested in their career here will stay," Brown said.
Incoming police officers will be required to pass a security check and a local background check. The new police will have to complete an eight-week Marine Corps civilian law enforcement course.
The new civilian police officers will fulfill the same duties active-duty military police are now, including standing guard at the base gates and patrols.
Three Marine Corps bases already have converted to civilian police departments: Marine Corps Support Facility, Blount Island Command in Florida; Marine Corps Logistics Base Albany in Georgia; and Marine Corps Logistics Base Barstow, in California. The remaining base provost marshal offices will not convert to civilian police departments but will incorporate a mix of military police and civilian police officers, Thomas said.
Most Marine base support positions, including vehicle registration, vehicle impound, PMO front desk, and the ready-for-issue room (armory), are now being filled by civilians, he said.
The switch over to civilian police will put an end to the Fleet Assistance Program for PMOs. The program sends Marines from other fields to temporarily step in as military police.
Contact police reporter Lindell Kay at lkay@freedomenc.com or 910-554-8534. To comment on this story or to read others' comments go to jdnews.com.
Ellie